B67C CLEANING, FILLING WITH LIQUIDS OR SEMILIQUIDS, OR EMPTYING, OF BOTTLES, JARS, CANS, CASKS, BARRELS, OR SIMILAR CONTAINERS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; FUNNELS
Description
B67C covers apparatus and methods for filling containers with liquids or semiliquids and for emptying such containers, encompassing bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels, and similar rigid or flexible vessels. This subclass includes filling machines, emptying devices, dispensing systems, and associated equipment that are not classified elsewhere in the CPC system. Funnels and funnel-related devices for liquid transfer are also included here. The classification applies to general-purpose filling and emptying technologies across diverse industries, such as food and beverage, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and cosmetics.
Filing statistics
CPC subclass B67C recorded 13,755 patent applications worldwide between 2013 and 2023. Annual filings grew from 739 in 2013 to 1,114 in 2023 (+51%), peaking at 1,886 applications in 2020. The most active applicants in class B67 are KRONES (1,493 applications), LG ELECTRONICS (869 applications) and KHS (843 applications).
Source: EPO PATSTAT, worldwide filings
4 direct subcodes
Child Classifications
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- B67C 11/00 Funnels, e.g. for liquids (filter funnels B01D29/085; volume flow-meters G01F)
- B67C 3/00 Bottling liquids or semiliquids; Filling jars or cans with liquids or semiliquids using bottling or like apparatus; Filling casks or barrels with liquids or semiliquids
- B67C 7/00 Concurrent cleaning, filling, and closing of bottles; Processes or devices for at least two of these operations
- B67C 9/00 Devices for emptying bottles, not otherwise provided for
Top Applicants
Top 10 applicants by patent filingsfor class B67, 2013–2023, worldwide · Source: EPO PATSTAT
- KRONES DE 1,493
- LG ELECTRONICS KR 869
- KHS DE 843
- ANHEUSER-BUSCH INBEV BE 515
- COCA-COLA COMPANY US 488
- PEPSICO US 477
- KRONES 417
- HEINEKEN SUPPLY CHAIN NL 398
- COWAY COMPANY KR 339
- FREEZIO CH 322